Profile

Sander Wirken joined the University of Amsterdam as a PhD researcher in September 2012. He conducts research focused on transitional justice and the rule of law.

He obtained his LL.B. (Law) and his B.Sc. (International Relations) from the University of Amsterdam. He completed his LL.M. degree (International Public Law) at the University of Amsterdam  cum laude . For his master's thesis about impunity in Guatemala he was awarded the University of Amsterdam Thesis Prize 2011. He obtained an M.Sc. degree (International Security) cum laude  from Sciences Po Paris, and was awarded the Bourse d'Excellence Descartes 2010 and the Sciences Po Prix de la vie étudiante 2012.

In 2006, Sander co-founded the NGO Niños de Guatemala (NDG). It is NDG's aim to improve access to education for underprivileged children in Guatemala. NDG has built and runs two elementary schools, providing high-quality education to over 300 Guatemalan children. Sander spent a total of over two years in Guatemala and is currently still a member of the General Board of NDG.  

Since 2011, Sander has been working on Burden of Peace, a documentary about the former Attorney General of Guatemala, Claudia Paz y Paz, together with documentary director Joey Boink from Framewerk. The documentary is scheduled for release soon.

• NGO Niños de Guatemala

• Burden of Peace documentary

• Master's thesis "Guatemalan Genocide and CICIG - Justice at Last?" (pdf)

• Ninos de Guatemala
  Raad van Toezicht (onbezoldigd)
• Framewerk
  Researcher
• Impunity Watch
  Bestuurder (onbezoldigd)